News and Media

11 December 2010

Waratah's Secret confirmed his status as one of the finest gallopers in Western Australia with a stunning all the way win in Saturday's Group Three AJ Scahill Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.

Sent to the lead early by star Perth jockey Paul Harvey, Waratah's Secret was able to control the speed and kick away from his rivals in a powerful front running display.

The son of WA based Stravinsky sire Oratorio, Waratah's Secret was able to make up for an unlucky fourth placing in the recent $750,000 Winterbottom Stakes with his latest success.

But while he could have been excused for wondering what could have been in WA's richest sprint, trainer David Harrison was looking forward to the future with his stable star.

"That's racing. Sometimes you get the luck and sometimes your don't," Harrison reported.

"It wasn't Paul's fault - they just went a bit quick and he got shuffled back - but that's racing - you've got to take the good with the bad."

In the run to the line this time around Waratah's Secret ($2.60 fav) held a sizeable two and a quarter length margin over the runner-up and recent Winterbottom Stakes winner Hadabeclorka ($8).

Elliotto ($26) was another short neck back in third place in the feature 1400 metre contest.

"Paul said we would ride him positively because if they go fast he can sit back and if they don't he can go forward," Harrison commented.

"He rode him positively out of the barriers today and it worked great. He won pretty soft."

"He likes to roll along at that one bat - and that bat is usually quicker than the others."

Harrison said he wasn't sure what the immediate future held for Waratah's Secret - but said he was excited about his long term ambitions.

"I'm not sure where he's going now. I think he'll be a better horse sitting in a 1400 or a mile in better company so the future looks good."

Waratah's Secret was purchased by Harrison for $43,000 from the 2008 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale from the draft of Gray and Jan Williamson's Mungrup Stud.

He boasts the impressive race record of eight wins and four second placings from just 14 starts - he's earned an ever increasing haul of $459,100.

Waratah's Secret is one of three winners produced by Blissfully, a twice raced daughter of champion New Zealand based sire Zabeel.

Blissfully is a half sister to the listed Red Roses Stakes winner Perfect Evening and is from a half sister to former star juvenile Blazing Saddles.

His sire Oratorio, an Australia bred son of Stravinsky, is making waves for all the good reasons in WA with a swag of top class racehorses with just a few crops to race.

A former member of the Lee Freedman stable, Oratorio shot to prominence at two by winning the Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic. Later that year he trained on to win the CS Hayes Stakes at Moonee Valley.

The cream of Oratorio's latest yearling crop will go under the hammer at February's Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale at Belmont.


Winner: Waratah's Secret (Oratorio-Blissfully)
Race: WATC AJ Scahill Stakes G3 (1400m)
Sold for: $43,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Mungrup Stud
Buyer: David Harrison
Earnings: $459,100
Owner(s): Mrs DM Sparkman, DH Atwell, LR Atwell, MF Atwell, GN Atwell, WN Atwell, Mrs CA Harbison, Mrs RE Collins, Mrs CM Green & Mrs MC Hoffmann
Trainer: David Harrison (Lark Hill)